Hollow sheet metal door construction for cabinets



Nov. 30, 1943. F. WHITEHEAD 2,335,329

HOLLOW SHEET METAL DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR CABINETS Filed Dec. 2, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet I Nov. 30, 1943. wHlTEHEAD 2,335,329

I HOLLOW SHEET METAL DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR CABINETS Filed Dec. 2, 19:593 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 30, 1943.

G, F. WHITEHEAD HOLLOW SHEET METAL DOOR CONSTRUCTION FOR CABINETS FiledDec. 2, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. '30, 1943 HOLLOW SHEET METALDOOR CONSTRUC- TION FOR CABINETS Grover Whitehead, Rockford, Ill.,assignor to v Geo. D. Roper Corporation, Rockford, 11]., a

corporation of Illinois Application December 2, 1939, Serial No. 301,215

20 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet metal cabinets, and is particularlyconcerned with improved hollow sheet metal door constructions.

In the manufacture of doors for cooking ranges and other sheet metalcabinets, a serious problem is presented by the tendency for the sheetmetal panels used in the door to warp to a twisted form so that thedoors will not close properly, and as a result the range or othercabinet presents a cheap and unsightly appearance. The only solutionheretofore, which was not a satis-- factory solution, was to keep thepanels absolutely rigid in the desired shape during the heatingoperation incident to enamelllng, but regardless of such care inhandling, there was still a noticeable amount of warpage. Accordingly,as disclosed in a copending application, Serial No. 306,334, filedNovember 27,1939, 1'. have proposed a novel method of eliminatingdistortion in the panels so that it is unnecessary to take specialprecautions in the enamelling process and there is an appreciable savingin cost of manufacture and the resulting panels, are uniformly straight.In said copending application, the method is disclosed as applied tosingle panel and doublepanel lids or covers for cooking tops.

The present invention is particularly concerned with the application ofthe same method by the use of similar warp compensating means to hollowsheet metal doors, in which further problems are presented by reason ofthe fact that handles must be applied and their application is apt toresult in further distortion of the door panels unless properprecautions are taken. At

any rate, the warp compensating means employed I in at least one type ofdoors has the handle supporting bracket forming a part, of the sameassembly with the warp compensating means, and in all of the hereindisclosed types of doors the handle supporting bracket is designed to beapplied between the inner and outer panels and to have the handleattached so that there is no danger of either panel being distorted byhandle strain. 1

The invention, in other words, is concerned partly with improved warpcompensating means, partly with improved handle mounting means, andpartly with an improved combination of the aforesaid means.

Another object consists in the mounting of the warp compensating meanson small doors of the types used on broiler drawers on ranges in whichthe enlarged pad portions at the opposite ends of thewarp compensatingassembly attached to the inner panel of the door are arranged to besecured to the panel by the same bolts, used in fastening thedoor-supporting hinge brackets that project from the back of the doorand are attached to the broiler drawer.

Still another object consists in the provision of warp compensatingmeans onlarger doors of the type used as closures for utility or storagecompartments inranges and which are hinged on a vertical axis and havevertically spaced hinge members arranged to be attached to the door, awarp compensating member being constructed to have one end boltedrigidly to one of the hinge members while the other end is constructedto be fastened to the other hinge member in adjusted angular relationthereto, the same being fulcrumed on said member for that purpose, sothat the two hinge members function as elements of the warp compensatingmeans.

A still further object consists in the provision of warp compensatingmeans on large doors of the kind used on ovens in which the doors arehinged to swing on a horizontal axis, a warp compensating member beingprovided in this instance"constructed at one end to be rigidly attachedto one of the two elongated hinge members used both for hingedlymounting the door and also as anchorages for the arms which extendinwardly from the door and are attached to the usual counterbalancingtension springs, the other end of the warp compensating member beingconstructed for tilting'engagement with the other of said hinge membersand being secured in adjusted angular relation thereto, so that the twohinge members function as elements of the warp compensating means. a 1

Fig. 2 is a front view of the inner panel of the broiler door from whichthe outer panel and handle have been removed to disclose the warpcompensating means and handle supporting bracket;

Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection through the door on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the door, taken in the plane or theline 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail taken in the plane ofthe line 5-5 01 Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the inner panel of the utility door from whichthe outer panel and bandle have been removed so as to disclose the warpcompensating means and handle supporting bracket;

Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged horizontal sectional details taken in theplanes of thebroken lines 'I-l and 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail taken in the plane ofthe line 9-9 of F18. 6;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the outer door panel intended for usewith the door shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through one of the oven doors taken on theline llli of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in verticalsection taken on the broken line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 12, and

Figs. 14 and 15 are vertical sectional details on the lines 14-14 andi-l5 of Fig. 12.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts in allrelated views.

The range illustrated in Fig. 1 has a broiler compartment the door l6 ofwhich is constructed as disclosed in Figs. 2 to 5. The oven door I! for.

the baking oven above the broiler compartment is constructed similarlyto the oven door is for the other baking oven, usually referred to asthe pastry even, that door being the one illustrated in Figs. 11 to 15.In some ranges, the space below the panel i9 that closes the front ofthe burner box compartment, as indicated by the fact that it has controlknobs 2U projecting therefrom associated with the cooking top burners,is a storage compartment, and, in those cases, a door like that numbered2!, illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10, is used.

ends arranged to be entered in annular grooves 34 in the studs to securethe handle in place covering up the enlarged head portions 35 providedon the studs and abutting the outside of the panel 28 so as to hold thepanel in place when the studs thereof, the bolts projecting throughholes 39 provided in pad portions formed integral with the T-shaped warpcompensating members 4| and 42 which in turn are secured by other bolts43 to the inner panel 24. The members 4| and 52 in so far as their warpcompensating function is concerned are constructed along the lines of myother application, the same having overlapping ends 4 la and 42a with afulcrum projection 44 on one of these end portions engaging in a recessprovided in the other of said portions, two screws 46 and 41 beingentered freely through holes in the end portion dla and threaded inholes in the end portion 42a, whereby to permit tiltably adjusting themembers 4| and 42 with respect to one another about their longitudinalaxes. Holes 48 in the inner panel 24 permit adjustment of. the screws toThe cooking top cover 22 which is hinged at its rear edge to permitlifting it to a. vertical position in front of the back rail 23 ispreferably constructed along the lines disclosed in my co-pendingapplication above mentioned, including warp compensating means to makeit lie flat. The warp compensating means herein disclosed as applied tothe doors i5, i8, and 29 are provided for a similar purpose and make itpossible to true up the doors so that they close properly and lie flushwith one another.' Prior to the adjustment of the warp compensatingmeans, a door is apt to stand away at one corner or another, as indi-'cated by the dotted line positions in the cases of the doors it and I8,due to warped panels. The adjustment of the warp compensating means:counteracts the twist and the doors are accordingly straightened andwill close properly and present a much neater appearance than wouldotherwise be the case.

Referring now to the broiler door i6, illustrated. in Figs. 2 to 5, thisdoor comprises an inner sheet metal panel 24 having circumferentiallyprojecting flanges 25 and an outer sheet metal panel 26 havingcircumferentially projecting flanges 21 provided with inwardly extendinglugs 28 on the lower flange arranged to be entered in slots 29 providedtherefor in the lower flange of the inner panel, so that when the twopanels are assembled with their flanges in telescoping relation and thelugs entered in the slots it requires very little additional fasteningmeans to secure them toether. The handle 30, in accordance with myinvention, is arranged to be assembled over studs 3i projecting from ahandle supporting bracket 32 disposed between the panels 24 and 28, andscrews 33 in the ends of the handle have conical and d! from the innerside of the assembled door. When the screw 46, for example, is looseneda turn or two and the screw 47 is ti htened an equivalent amount, thetransverse end portions iib and 52b are accordingly adjusted to adifferent angular relationship and in that way distortion of the doordue to warpage of either one or both of its panels may be eliminated.The fact thatthe handle supporting bracket 32 is of light sheet metalconstruction insures its giving with the rest of the assembly in thiswarp compensating adjustment, so that there is no interference set up inthis member. In passing, it will be seen that the segmental-shaped hingebrackets 49 which are pivoted, as at 50, to the front of the broilerdrawer 51, as indicated in Fig. 4, and have I arcuate slots 52 thereinconcentric with the pivots 50 so as topermit swinging the door l6forwardly and downwardly to a horizontal position against the action ofthe spring-pressed detents 53 carried on the brackets 49 and arranged toengage behind studs 55% projecting from the sides of the drawer into theslots 52 are secured to the back of the door by their flanges 55, two ofthe bolts 43 provided for securing the members it and d2 to the innerpanel 26 being entered through holes in the flanges 55 to secure thehinge brackets $9 to the door. In that way, when the warp compensatingadjustment is made, the hinge brackets 59 are adjusted angularly withrespect to one another as the door is straightened. In passing, it willalso appear that the bracket 32 serves both as a spacer for the panels24 and 25 and as a support for the handle 30, relieving the outer panel26,01 the strains which would otherwise be imposed upon it if the handle30 were supported thereon. It is found that this method of supportingthe-handle eliminates the likelihood of the enamel on the outer panelbeing cracked by reason of handle strain.

In Figs. 6-10, the door 26, which is adapted for use as a utilitycompartment door on a range, is of hollow sheet metal constructionsimilar to the door i6, having telescoping panels 24a and 28a arrangedto interlock by entry of lugs 28a serves a double purpose.

bracket 82a and be held in place by handle 88a and studs 8|, as .in theother door I8. The bracketifla is secured by bolts 88a to the innerpanel 24a. One of these bolts serves also to fasten one end of a hingeplate 88 by means of its lug 81, there being another bolt 88 forsecuring the other end of the plate to the panel. Another hinge plate"is fastened by bolts 88 and 8| to the panel 24a. Small bosses 82 on theplates protrude through holes 88 in the panel to locate the platesaccurately and assume the bulk of the load of the door, whereas thebolts merely hold the plates in position. Gooseneck-shaped, concealedtype hinge members 84 and 88, which are fastened to the frame I8 of therange as at 88, project through-openings 81 in the panel 24a and supportthe door for swinging movement about coaxially aligned pintles 88 whichenter registering holes in the horizontal flanges 88 on the plates 88and 88 and in the inner ends of members 84 and 88. Now, the plates 88and 88 cooperate with a torsion bar II disposed vertically with its endsin transverse relation to the attaching portions of said plates to forma warp compensating means for straightening the door.

The lower end I2 has broad flat bearing engagement on the inner face ofthe plate 88 and is secured by th plate fastener bolt 8I entered freelythrough the hole 13 in the bar, so that this bolt The upper end ll ofthe bar has a center hole I5 therein for clearance about the inner endof bolt 58 and has V- shaped recesses I8 in the, outer face to receiveV-shaped fulcrum projections 11 provided on the plate 88 to tiltablysupport the bar on the plate. Two screws I8 and I8 are entered freelythrough holes 88 in the inner panel 24a and registering holes 8I in theplate 58 and thread in holes 82 in the-bar on opposite sides of the axisof the fulcrum recesses I8. The plate 88 can accordingly be adjusted toa desired angular relationship to the bar II so as to counteract andsubstantially neutralize distortion in the door due to warpage of eitheror both of its panels. The change in angularity of plate 88. to the bar'II necessarily means a change in the plane relationship of plates 88and 88 and they transmit a correcting stress to the door through theirbroad bearing contact with panel 24a. There is therefore no difllcultyconnected with straightening the door 2I so that it will close properlyand lie flush with the other doors and parts 'of the stove front.

The oven door I8 is also of two panel construction, as indicated at 24band 28b, and has a bandle 88b carried on a bracket 82b bolted as at 88bto the inner panel 24b. The panels 24b and 28b have telescoping flanges28b and 21b, respectively, and there are lugs 28b on the lower flange2'") which enter slots 28b in the lower flange b so as to interlock thepanels attheir lower ends similarly as in the other doors previouslydescribed, the handle and its mounting studs on the. handle supportingbracket serving to hold the panels together at their upper ends. In thistype of door elongated hinge plates 82-88 are bolted as at 84-88vertically to the inner panel and are pivoted as at 88 to hinge posts 81fastoned suitably to the front frame members 88 of the range so as tosupport the door for swinging movement about a horizontal axis throughpintles 88. Arms 88 are riveted to the plates 82-88 and project throughopenings 88 in the stove front to attach to tension springs 8I forcounterbalancing the door to prevent its drop- 3 ping with a jar whenlowered to open position. Now, these plates 82-88 cooperate with atorsion .bar 82 disposed horizontally with its ends in transverserelation to the lower ends of said plates to form awarp compensatingmeans for straightening the door. One end 88 of the bar 82 has twofingers 84-88 engaging one side of a vertical flange 88 provided on thelower end of the plate 82, and has a third finger 81 between the othertwo and in a different plane disposed on the other side of the flangeand arranged to be engaged by a screw 88 on the flange when the same istightened to clamp the end .88 of the bar 82 in rigid assembled relationto the plate 82. The other end 88 of the bar has a similar set offlngers84a, 88a and 81a cooperating with a flange 88a on the plate 88 but thefinger 81a has a V-shaped face I88 fulcruming on one side of the flange88a while the fingers 84a and 88a are inspaced relation to the otherside of said flange, as indicated Two screws I82 and I88 are threadedthrough holes in ,the flange 88a and engage the fingers 84a and 95a totilt the bar 82 about its fulcrum I88 relative to the flange 88a andhold it rigidly in'its adjusted angular relation to the flange, wherebyto set up a twisting strain in the assembly composed of the parts 82, 88and 82 in a direction and to adegree sufficient to neutralize-thewarpage in the door I8 due to warpage of either one or both of thepanels 24b and 28b. The screws I82 and I88 are accessible through holesI84 in the panel 28b and there arespacer tubes I85 inserted between theflang 88a and the panel 24b surrounding the projecting headed ends ofthe screws I82 and I88 so as to facilitate their adjustmentthrough theholes in the panel by guiding the screw-driver bit. I

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding ofthe "objects and, advantages of my invention. The appended claims havebeen drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications andadaptations.

, I claim: Y

1. In combination, a hollow panel adapted to be hingedly mounted andcomprising inner and outer flexible panel members, hinge membersattached to and projecting from the inner panel member in longitudinallyspaced relation for angularly relative to one another, and an elonclaim1, wherein the inner and outer panel membars have oppositely projectingcircumferentially extending flanges disposed in telescoping relation,

the bracket being disposed adjacent one end of the panel structure andthe panel members being secured thereby together at that end, the otherend of the panel members being'secured together by the engagement of oneor more lugs bent transversely from the circumferential flange on one ofsaid panel members in slots provided therefor in the cooperating flangeof the other panel member. I

3. In combination, a hollow panel adapted to be hingedly mounted andcomprising spaced innerand outer flexible panel memberssuitably'interconnected, hinge members having attaching portionsengaging the inner panel member and rigidly secured thereto in spacedrelation for hingedly supporting the panel, and an elongated warpcompensating structure disposed between the panels and having itsopposite ends abutting the inner side of the inner panel member adjacentwhile adjusting said hinge members angularly relative to one another.

4. In combination, a hollow panel comprising inner and outer flexiblepanel members suitably secured together, an elongated warp compensatingstructure disposed between'said panel members and having .its oppositeend portions rigidly secured to the inner panel member, said structureincluding means adjustable from outside the hollow panel for twistingthe structure about its longitudinal axis to subject the panel to acorresponding stress, a torsionally flexible but otherwise substantiallyrigid bracket adaptedto support a handle rigidly secured at its oppositeends to the opposite end portions of the aforesaid structure and havingengagement intermediate 7 its 'ends with the inner side of the outerpanel.

5. In a hinge structure, the combination of a supporting element, a pairof hinge members having elongated'attaching portions secured in spacedrelation to said supporting element, and

a structurally independent elongated adjustable frame structureextending between said hinge members and rigidly secured at its oppositeends thereto, said structure including manually adjustable means forsubjecting the structure to an angular adjustment about its longitudinalaxis whereby to adjust said hinge members angularly with respect to oneanother and hold the same rigidly in such adjusted relationship.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the supporting elementcomprises a door panel, the structure including a handle elementtorsionally flexible but otherwise substantially rigid secured at itsopposite ends to the opposite end portions. of said adjustable framestructure whereby the same has the end portions thereof adjustedangularly with respect to one another simultaneously with the adjustmentof the hinge members relative to one another.

'7. A door panel having hinge members secured to and projecting from theback thereof in parallel relation to one another and adapted to bepivotally mounted on a-support, a warp compensating frame structurerigidly secured at its opposite ends to the front of the door panel inrigid relation to the hinge members so that the door panel has flatsurface bearing engagement over a large area between said hinge membersand frame structure, the latter having manually adjustablemeans arrangedto be adjusted to twist said structure about its longitudinal axis so asto subject the door panel to corresponding stress to straighten the samewhen distorted, as

bywarpage,

8. A construction as set forth in claim 7, including a, torsionallyflexible but otherwise substantially rigid handle element on the doorpanel having its opposite end portions in rigid relation with the endportions of the adjustable warp compensating frame structure.

9. A construction as set forth in claim 7, including a separate outerpanel member for said door in spaced relation to the adjustable warpcompensating frame structure, and a torsionally. flexible but otherwisesubstantially rigid elongated element adapted to support a handle havingits end portions in substantially rigid relation with the end portionsof said frame structure and having its intermediate portion abutting theinner side of said panel.

10. In combination, a panel, and panel straightening means comprisingtwo elongated generally T-shaped frame members disposed in endwisealigned relation with the cross portions of the T's in remotesubstantially parallel relation to one another, means securing the crossportions to the panel, the adjoining ends of said frame members being inoverlapping spaced relation to one another and one of said end portionshaving a fulcrum projection in fulcrum engagement with the end portionof the other member, and manually adjustable screws entered freelythrough holes provided in one of said overlapping end portions andthreaded in holes provided in the other of said overlapping end portionsin laterally spaced relation on opposite sides of the fulcrumprojection.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 10 including another panel inspaced relation to the first mentioned sheet metal panel, the two panelsbeing suitably secured together enclosing the panel straightening means,and one of said panels having one or more openings provided therein inregistering relation with the adjusting screws to permit adjustmentthereof from the exterior of the structure.

12. In an adjustable hinge structure for a door or the like, a pair ofspaced hinge members adapted to be rigidly secured to the door havingelongated end portions disposed in substantially parallel relation intransverse relation to the pivotal axis of the door, a pair of otherhinge members pivoted to the first mentioned hinge members in coaxialrelationship and adapted to be secured to a suitable support, a'torsionbar disposed in transverse relation to the aforesaid elongated endportions of the first mentioned hinge members, means for rigidlysecuring one end portion of saidbar to the.elongated end portion of oneof said first mentioned hinge members, and means for adjustably securingthe other end portion of said bar to the elongated end portion of theother of said first mentioned hinge members elongated end portionsdisposed in substantially parallel relation in transverse relation tothe pivotal axis of the door, a pair of other hinge members pivoted tothe first mentioned hinge members in coaxial relationship and adapted tobe secured to a suitable support, a .torsion bar disposed intransverserelation to the aforesaid elongated end portions of the first mentionedhinge members, means for rigidly securing one end portion of said bar tothe elongated end portion of one of said first mentioned hinge members,the otherend portion of said bar tiltably engaging the elongated endportion of the other of said first mentioned hing members to rock withrespect thereto about the longitudinal axis of said bar, and manuallyadjustable screws adjustably and rigidly connecting the bar and hingemember disposed in spaced relation to and on opposite sides of thefulcrum axis substantially aaand for the purpose described. I

14. In an adjustable hinge structure for a door or the like, a pair ofspaced hinged members adapted to be rigidly secured to the door havingelongated end portions disposed in substantially parallel relation intransverse relation to the pivotal axis of the door, a pair of otherhinge members pivoted to the first mentioned hinge members in coaxialrelationship and adapted to be secured to a suitable support, a torsionbar disposed in transverse rigid relation to the aforesaid elongated endportions of the first mentioned hinge members, and means for subjectingthe torsion bar to a twisting stress about its longitudinal axis wherebyto transmit door twisting stresses to the first mentioned hinge members.

15. In an adjustable hinge structure, the combination of a pair ofspaced hinge members adapted to be rigidly mounted on a door forhingedly supporting the same, a pair of cooperating hinge memberspivotally connected to the first mentioned hinge members in coaxialrelationship and adapted to be mounted ona suitable support, each ofsaid first mentioned hinge members having a longitudinal flangeprojecting therefrom, a torsion bar disposed between and in transverserelation to the first mentioned hinge members and having one end portionforked to receive the longitudinal flange on one or said hinge memberswhereby rigidly to interconnect said end portion and flange, the otherend portion of said bar being forked to provide two laterally spacedfingers disposed in spaced relation toone side of the longitudinalflange on the other of said first mentioned hinge members, and anintermediate finger disposed in fulcrum engagement with the other sideof said flange, and manually adjustable screws extending between thefirst mentioned fingers and the flange for tiltably adjusting the endportion of the bar relative to the flange and holding the same rigidlyin adjusted angular relation thereto.

16. In combination, a fiexible panel member, hinge members attached toand projecting from the panel member in longitudinally spaced relationfor hingedly mounting the same, an elongated warp compensating structurerigidly connected at its opposite ends to the hinge members and panelmember and including means adjustable to twist said structure about itslongitudinal axis so as to neutralize distortion of the panel andaccordingly straighten said panel while adjusting said hinge membersangularly relative to one another, and an elongated torsionally flexiblebut otherwise substantially rigid member rigidly attached at itsopposite ends to the aforesaid structure.

17. A construction as set forth in claim '7, including a torsionallyfiexible but otherwise substantially rigid elongated element adapted tosupport a handle having its end portions in substantially rigid relationwith the end portions of said frame structure and having itsintermediate portion abutting the inner side of said panel.

18. In an adjustable hinge structure, the combination of a pair ofspaced hinge members adapted to be rigidly mounted on a door forhingedly supporting the same, a pair of cooperating hinge memberspivotally connected to the first mentioned hinge members in coaxialrelationship and adapted to be mounted on a suitable support, a torsionbar disposed between and in transverse relation to the first mentionedhinge members and having one end portion rigidly connected to one ofsaid hinge members, the other of said hinge members having alongitudinal flange projecting therefrom, the other end portion of saidbar being forked to provide two laterally spaced fingers disposed inspaced relation to one side of said longitudinal flange, and anintermediate finger disposed in fulcrum engagement with the other sideof said flange, and

.manually adjustable screws, extending between the first mentionedfingers and the flange for tiltably adjusting the end portion of the barrelative to the flange and holding the same rigidly in adjusted angularrelation thereto.

19. In combination, a panel member, hinge members projecting from theback of the panel member in longitudinally spaced relation forhingedly'mounting the same, an elongated member adapted to support ahandle attached at its opposite ends to the front of the panel member,

.and fastening means extending through the panel member and serving bothto attach the hinge members to the back thereof and the elongated memberto the front thereof.

20. In combination, a flexible panel member, hinge members projectingfrom the back of the panel member in longitudinally spaced relation forhingedly mounting the same, an elongated warp compensating structurerigid at its opposite ends with the hinge members and panel member andincluding means adjustable to twist aaovm F. wm'mnnsn

